He then turned to Annie. “Handle it. Deal with them.”

Anyone who went after Annie in Yata was signing their own death warrant. This couldn’t be ignored. The King might be restricted in his actions, but Edward wasn’t. He had dealt with situations like this before—and he had no intention of holding back now.

Annie felt a sense of relief. At least Edward wasn’t directing his fury at her anymore. She had never been one to fear a fight, but keeping her father on her side was crucial. If tension grew between them, it would only weaken their family. And in their world, a family’s unity determined its survival. She couldn’t let everything fall apart—not now. Pushing aside her emotions, Annie immediately began making arrangements. Lois would pay for what she had done. So what if there was no evidence? That didn’t matter. Nothing would stop Annie from taking action.

The next day, Lois sat in the backyard of her home, sipping coffee.

It was midday, and the sun shone brightly overhead. But the crisp autumn air softened its heat, making the warmth feel pleasant rather than harsh. She sat there, eyes half-closed, savoring the cool breeze. Just then, her mother stepped out of the house, carrying a plate of freshly baked cakes. “Lois, try these,” she said with a warm smile.

Lois glanced up, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

But in the next second, her expression changed.

Bang! A gunshot shattered the peaceful afternoon.

Almost simultaneously, Lois drew her pistol with lightning-fast reflexes, firing at the incoming bullet.

Bang! The two bullets collided midair with a sharp, metallic crack. The impact was deafening, but Lois’s shot altered the trajectory of the incoming bullet. It swerved off course and embedded itself in a nearby pillar.

A wave of fear drained the color from Lois’s face. The small cake in her trembling hand quivered uncontrollably, revealing her momentary shock.

Yet, in the next instant, the seemingly delicate young woman steadied herself. Without hesitation, she raised her pistol and fired toward the source of the attack.

The shot rang out, and the figure lurking in the shadows crumpled to the ground with a dull thud.

Lois’s mother stood frozen, her face ashen.

“Go inside. No one should stay here,” Lois ordered, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Clearly, the enemies lurking in the shadows had already begun their attack.

As if jolted awake, her mother nodded frantically. “Okay.” She turned toward the house, but her legs wobbled with every step, threatening to give out beneath her. Despite her terror, she forced herself forward, stumbling toward the door.

Lois swept her gaze across the area, ensuring no additional threats lurked in the shadows. Then, with an air of detached finality, she commanded, “Clean it up.”

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